Railway-frog and foot-guard therefor



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. I'. ELLIS. RAILWAY FROG AND FOOTGUARD THBREFOB.. No. 539,677

E rs-11:i

Patented May 21, 1895.

(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2.

W. I. ELLIS. RAILWAY FROG AND FooTGUARD THBRBPOR.v

110.539,67?. Patented May 21,1895. Y

wncesses.

NITED STATES vArnNT FFI-gon.

IVILLIAM F. ELLIS, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

RAILWAY-FROG AND FOOT-GUARD THEREFOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Lettersratent No. 539,677, daten may 21,1895.

Application vled December 29', 1894.' Serial No. -533,294.. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. ELLIS, of Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Railway-Frogs and Foot-Guards Therefor, of which the followingdescription, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification,likeletters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to that class of track fittings-commonly known as frogs or crossings.

The object of my invention is toirnprove the construction of fittings of the above class, which Ishall hereinafter denominate frogs, in a manner to provide greater safety both to traffic and workmen, but without adding materially to the cost of the frog.

Prior to my invention the rails of railway frogs have usually been secured in position in either of three principal ways, vizz-by means of bolts passedlaterally, through and through the rails, uniting the latter together; by riveting the rails to an iron or steel supporting plate, or by clamping the rails together by means of yokes or clamps extended under and embracing therails between their upturned ends. The first of these constructions, while probably usedl the most extensively is expensive to keep in repair, because of the rapidity with which the bolts shear or break by reason of the Working of the rails, one with relation to the other, under the action of passing trains. The second' construction is little used because of its great cost, but it is nevertheless a desirable construction, because of the supporting plate which prevents undue vertical movement of the rails with relation to each other, and thereby prevents shearing or working loose of the bolts or other fastenings. The last construction possesses great strength and is extensively used because of'its moderate cost, but experience has shown that the vertical movement of the rails with relation to each other under the action of passing trains,-the rails having no under support,acts after a time to loosen the yoke support.

In devisingafitting or frog embodying my present invention, I have employed the yoke because of its great permanent strength,com bined with moderate first cost, and to support the rails against undue vertical play, which is the only movement which loosens the yoke construction, I provide, in combination with a yoke, a large metallic supporting plate, which isinserted between the yoke and the bases or feet of the rails, and is thereby held firmly in position supporting the rails without the expensive rivets or bolts heretofore considered necessary in the plate construe` tion.

My invention also comprehends novel foot guards and means for securing the same to the rails of the frog, whereby drilling and removal of the rails for fitting the guards is rendered unnecessary.

Other features of my invention will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In lthe drawings, Figure 1, in plan View, shows a frog with its accompanying guardrail embodying my invention, the ties being broken away to narrow the figure. Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken on the dotted line .fr ir, Fig. l; Fig. 3, a horizontal section through the left or toe end of the frog and its connected track-rails, illustrating one manner of attachin g a filling-block or foot-guard in position without drilling the rails especially therefor;

Fig. 3", a perspective detail showing the ll- Fig. 5, a perspective detail showing the filling-block or foot-guard shownin Fig. 5; Figs.V

6, '7, and 8, details relating to the application of the Hart guard, to be referred to.

In the particular construction selected to enable vmy invention to be understood, and therefore shown in the drawings, referring to Figs. l and 2, a, ci, are the usual outside or wing rails, and b, b, the usual point rails curved and arranged in usual manner, the toe of the frog being at the left, Fig. l, and the heelat the right.

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In the construction shown, the rails a., a, near the toe of the frog are shown as separated by a usual spacing block a', through which and the said rails is passed a fastening rivet or bolt a2, binding the whole firmly together. At the throat of the frog, the rails ct, a, and b, IJ, are held in proper relative position by like spacing blocks b', b', through which and the several rails is passed a fastening bolt b2, while farther on toward the heel of the frog are arranged other similar spacing blocks b3, b3, through which and the several rails are passed suitable fastening bolts b4, all as common in frogs now constructed. Yet another spacing block b5 is arranged between the point rails l), b, near the ends of the wing rails, through which is passed a bolt o6, as shown.

Beneath the several rails composing the frog, and extending for a considerable distan-ee at or about the middle thereof, adjacent ward the outer faces of the outside rails, upon or over the filling blocks d interposed between said upturned ends and the said outer rails, as best shown in Fig. 2. This yoke, commonly known as the Offut or Ramapo yoke, firmly binds the several rails of the frog together, and as herein constructed also firmly holds the supporting plate c in position, avoiding the use of rivets or bolts passed through the feet of the rails, as has heretofore been necessary when supporting plates have been used.

I have herein shown two tightening bolts d2, d'2, extended through the filling blocks d and having their rear ends provided with eyes,

through which one of the fastening bolts b4 is passed, to enable the said yoke to be drawn toward the heel of the frog when necessary, for tightening purposes.

the supporting plate in its proper position against lateral movement, especially during transportation, the said plate being also provided'with the usual holes c?l for spiking the plate to the` ties. g

When the frog is placed in position, the supporting plate is of such length that it reaches from one to the other of and rests necessarily upon the two or three ties at opposite sides the depending yoke, so that the said plate prevents undue vertical play of the individual rails during the passage thereover of the trains, yet the fastening of the rails to the plate in my improved construction is not so rigid as to prevent that wave motion produced by a' passing' train, but which is not so excessive as to destroy the I have also herein shown the two corners cx, cx, of the support` ing plate as struck up and over the outer edges of the outside rails, to assistin holding frog. On the contrary, it is desirable to provide for this wave motion.

By notching the supporting plate for the supporting yoke, longitudinal play or movement of the plate is prevented, and while I have herein shown a single yoke, it is evident more than one yoke or any other form of clamp may be employed as desired, as in frogs now commonly employed.

At the present time it is extremely difficult to provide suitable foot guards for frogs and other track fittings, the expense attending the usevof etiicientguards being' at present so great that few permanent ways are properly protected by guards. To remedy this danger and to enable all frogs and littings to be provided with proper guards, I have herein so constructed my improved frog, as to enable foot guards to be applied in a novel manner.

Referring now to the toe end of the frog, Figs. l and 6, the filling block e properly shaped to lit between the converging rails thereat, is shown as having its inner end provided at the bottom with a toe or projection te', adapted to (it under the top projection ax on the filling block a so that the said filling block securely holds the inner end of the foot guard in position.

The outer end of the foot guard, as shown in Fig. 3a, is provided at its end with a horizontal groove or channel e2, while the sides of the foot guard are provided with end recesses or undercuts e3 in which are the hollow or semi-circular recesses e4.

efore the foot guard e is placed in position, two bars e5 of Norway or other suitable iron or steel, perforated at one end, are placed as washers beneath the heads of the bolts e employed to clamp the usual angle bars to the ends of the rails abutting the toe of the frog, the said bars e5 then standing in the positions indicated in dotted lines Fig. 3.

After the foot guard has been placed in position with its toe e under the projection on thespacing block b', the end recesses e3 permitting it to be replaced over the projecting bars e5, the latter by suitable means are bent over or around the outer end of the foot guard and into the groove or channel e2, as shown in Fig. 3, to thereby eiectually hold the said outer endin position. The recesses e3, may, if desired, be extended along its sides for its entire length, to clear the heads of the bolts uniting the angle bars to the rails, or separate semicircular recesses, as e", provided at each bolt head.

Referring now to the heel end of the frog, I have shown a foot guard f arranged similar to the foot guard e at the toe end of the frog, its inner end or apex being provided with a toe whichV is inserted under the projection of the spacing block b5 with the spacing block a referred to, but the outer end of the said foot guard block f, while held by holding bars bent over on the principle described in reference to Figs. 3 and 3a, yet in this instance are IOC IIO

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bent in a different manner. Best illustrated in Figs. and 5a. Referring to said figures the outer end of the foot guard block is shown as provided with the side recesses f,f, and with the top channel f2, and the top of this foot guard block may, if desired, be brought up f to nearly the top of the rail heads, as shown in dotted lines. Before the guard block is placed in position, two hars f3, f3, are placed as washers beneath the heads of the bolts f4l uniting the angle bars to the track rails joining the heel of the frog, said bars f3, however, in this construction being left in a vertical p0- sition instead of in a horizontal position as in zo f3, and after the guard block has been pushed into position, said bars f3 are bent down over the saine into the channel'f2, as shown in Fig. 5, to retain the block firmly in position. I have herein shown two ways of bending the holding bars over for the purpose ofV retaining the foot guard blocks in position, yet my invention is not restricted to the particular construction shown. The advantage of securing the foot guard blocks in position in this manner is that no holes need be drilledl in the rails through which bolts maybe passed to clamp the blocks in position, for the holding bars described, may be first secured by any of the usual-bolts employed in the construction of the frog or track fitting or in securing the same to adjoining rails by means ofusual angle or splice bars or plates, and made of sufficient length to enable them to be carried to and around the end or top of the block to be held in position.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 4, h', h', are two foot guard blocks arranged between the point and wing rails at the ends of the latter. These blocks, as herein shown, are grooved at their opposite edges, preferably throughout their entire length, as at h2, h2, see Figf/t, and are also shown as perforated at their middle from one to another of the said grooves or channels by a perforation or hole h3. The block h" is shown as held in position by abar h4 herein shown as passed through the perforation h3 and secured therein or to said block in suitable manner, it being herein shown as bent over at opposite sides the block, one of the bent ends, as h5, being carried forward far enough to receive' the pin or bolt h6 passed through the web of the adjacent wing rail. The bar h4 is bent as described before the block is placed in position, the said block being thereafter pushed in from the end of the wing until it is in position,after which it is fastened by thepin or fastening h6. The advantage of this fastening is that the block can be fastened to the rail at one side after the block has -been placed in position, andjthe frog in use, which is impossible at the present time. The block h is secured in position -in a similar manner, the holder-bar k7, however, being extended rearwardly far enough to enable it to be held by one of the bolts clamping the angle bars to the rails as shown.

Referring to Fig. 4, I have shown two springs s, s, suitably attached to the sides of .the block h', and which press against the sides of the adjacent rails to prevent the block rattling while in use, said springs also serving to take up slack or lost space between the block and adjacent rails when the latter are spread'slightly in excess of the spread for which the block was particularly designed.

While l have herein shown two springs applied to the blocks h', said springs may be similarly employed in connection with the other block described, and one or more springs may be employed, as found necessary'.

Heretofore foot guard blocks have been placed between the rails and boltedrigidly thereto by passing bolts through the same and the adjacent rails. Such method is obj ectionable, irst, because the rigid bolting of the blocks between the rails at or near the ends of the frogs where the greatest play takes place does not give opportunity for the rails to have the necessary slight play one with relation to the other during the passage of the trains over some and not over others, the result being that the bolts holding the blocks are frequently sheared off or broken. Again, when the blocks `are placed in position between two rails as heretofore, the rails must be either especially drilled for the holding bolts, orsthe bolts for holding the angle plates must bev employed, they being made of sufficient length to reach through both rails, which is not desirable, inasmuch as the bolts would not then stand at right angles to the angle plates, which they are to hold. It is very necessary, however, that the foot guard block be secured to the rails instead of to the ties upon which the rails rest, for there is always more or less play between the rails and their ties and especially in the winter and spring of the year is this play most pronounced for at such times the frost acts most damagingly upon the ties, ,and frequently heaves or drops the same to such an extent as to require the rails to be shimmed up from the ties all the way from one half to two or more inches, and if the foot guards are attached to the ties it is evident that under such circumstances they will be either twisted from position and possibly heeled up above the rail heads thereby rendering it dangerous for the passage of trains, or they will be torn from their fastenings on the ties and left loose upon the rails, a constant menace to the lives of passengers on passing trains. With my improved construction, however the vblocks are firmly held in position to the rails which they must guard, therefore free from the twisting action to which anything secured to the ties is subjected by the play of the latter, yet there is sufficient flexibility to the holdingdevices to permit free play of the rails IOC IIO

within the usual limits, without danger of breaking the fastenings, andby carrying the fastening bars to the nearest bolt used in the construction of the frog or the securing of the same in position, extra drilling of the rails is obviated, and also the use of the eXtra long fasteningbolts for the angle plates, referred to.

In Fig. l, I have shown a guard rail m, arranged against its adjacent track rail m and provided at opposite ends with guard blocks m2, such as are shown in connection with the frog, this serving to illustrate the application of my novel method of securing the blocks to other track fittings than the frog. Between the spacing blocks a', b', and b', b3, foot guards should also be arranged, butin such places,`

as in other similar places, in connection with track ttings, railroad oiicials frequently wish to use what is knownas the I-Iartfoot guard. Shown at the right in Fig. 7.

The usual method of attaching theI-lart7 guards is to bolt them to the adjacent rail or spike them to ties, or both, but neither of these methods is satisfactory, the first because of the necessity for drilling the rail, and the second for lack of security and because of the movements of the tie described to which the same may be spiked.

Referring to Fig; 7, illustrating the construction Fig. l, on an enlarged scale, I have provided the spacing block c with a recess o shown as in the corner of` the block into which the end ofthe Hart `guard o is inserted, as shown in Figs. l and 8. This end of the Hart guard is thus securely held in posi-` sition by the said spacing block and the other end may be similarly held, it being deemedf unnecessary to illustrate the same, the spacing blocks being preferably provided at eachl side with a recess o in order that they may hold the ends of two Hart guards.

The holding recess for the I-Iart guard need not necessarily be exactly asl have shown it,

I considering myself to be the first to hold the guard by inserting its end or apart thereof into a recess or under the end of the lling block.

Myinvention is not limited to the particu-v lar construction of parts herein shown nor so far as concerns the application of the foot guards to the particular track fitting shown.

In the claims I have used the term frog but it is evident a crossing or other equivalent tting where there are two diverging rails to be guarded will be included within the same and said yoke, and notched at its edge to receive the end of said yoke, substantially as described.

3. In a frog, a plurality of rails,and a yoke embracing the same, combined with a supporting plate arranged between said yoke and rails, and having one or more ears bent up and over theed ges of said rails, substantially as described.

4. In a frog, the combination of a plurality of rails, spacing blocks separating the same and the blocks di', combined with a yoke embracing the said rails and blocks, and the interposed supporting plate held by said yoke, substantially as described.

5. In a railway track fitting, the combination with two rails. and a substantially solid `foot guard block filling the space between the saine, ot a holding bar independent of and secured tosaid block and carried longitudinally of the block beyond its end and1secured to one of the adjoining rails, whereby said block remains always with the rails sub stantially as described.

6. In a railway track fitting, the combination with two rails, and a foot guard or filling block arranged between the same, of a holding bar arranged between the said filling block and the rail at its side and secured to one of the said rails-the end of said barbeing turned over and to hold said block in position, substantially as described.

7. The combination with two diverging rails, and foot guard or lling block arranged between the saine, and grooved, of a fastening bar secured to one of said rails, andbent at its end into the said groove, substantially as described.

8. The combination `with a frog,\and adjacent track rails united thereto by angle plates and bolts as described, of a guard block adapted for insertion between adjacent rails, and a fastening bar held at one end by one of said bolts, and at its opposite end bent to engage and thereby hold the said block, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a frog, and adjacent track rails united thereto by angle plates and bolts as described, Aof a guard block adapted for insertion between adjacent rails, and grooved to clear the heads of said fastening bolts, and a fastening bar held at one end by one of said bolts, and at its opposite end bent to engage and thereby hold the said block, substantially as described.

10. In a railway track fitting, the combination with two rails, and a block interposed between the same and provided with a holding recess, of a guard or block adapted at its end to enter said recess, whereby' said block operates to hold the adjacent end of said guard or block without the use of bolts or other fastening devices, substantially as described.

1l. In a track tting, the lcombination with two rails, and a block between the same, and

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provided with a holding recess, of a guard block interposed between said rails, and having one end projected into and held insaid recess, and a fastening bar secured to one of 5 said rails or a continuation thereof, and at its' opposite end bent over and to hold the said guard block, substantially as described.

l2. In a railway track fitting containing two rail sections, a foot guard, combined with 1o a spacing block separating said rails and socketed at its corner to receive the end of said foot guard, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed myy name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM F. ELLIS. Vitnesses:

' FREDERICK L. EMERY,

AUGUSTA E. DEAN. 

